Sunday Wrap Up: Rhinos Salvage Weekend with OT Victory
El Paso 6 @ Odessa 5: Eddie Shepler netted his second goal of the night as the El Paso Rhinos edged the Odessa Jackalopes 6-5 in overtime on Sunday night. Shepler’s first goal came in the opening period as he gave his team a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. Frank Tafelski had opened the scoring for El Paso and Kowin Belstering responded for Odessa. Mason LeBel and Braden Pietila traded goals in the second period to give the Rhinos a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. It was an exciting third period as the teams traded goals throughout. Christian Tavare tied the game in the opening minutes of the final frame. Tory Lund and his 13th goal of the season put El Paso back in the lead but James Richman tied things up again for Odessa. Tafelski notched his second goal of the night to put El Paso up by one again but it was Cameron Dunn scoring with 1:17 remaining to tie the game and force overtime. Shepler’s heroics in the overtime gave El Paso the extra point and put them back into a tie for second place in the South Division. Joey LoVullo got the win as he made four saves in relief of Karl Depape who made 23 stops on the night. Quentin Sigurdson was given the loss as he made 28 saves for Odessa.
